Inhibition of sympathetic nerves

Abstract

Apparatus ( 18 ) for treating a condition of a subject is provided. An electrode device ( 100 ) is adapted to be coupled to longitudinal nervous tissue ( 40 ) of the subject, and a control unit ( 50 ) is adapted to drive the electrode device to apply to the nervous tissue a current which is capable of inducing action potentials that propagate in the nervous tissue in a first direction, so as to treat the condition. The control unit is further adapted to suppress action potentials from propagating in the nervous tissue in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

1 - 92 . (canceled) 
     
     
         93 . A method for treating a subject, comprising:
 driving into a sympathetic nerve of the subject a current having a characteristic frequency between about 10 and 50 Hz and an amplitude between about 0.1 and 20 mA; and   configuring the driving of the current to be such as to inhibit action potential propagation in the nerve.   
     
     
         94 - 95 . (canceled) 
     
     
         96 . A method according to  claim 93 , wherein driving the current comprises driving the current into a nerve of the subject that provides sympathetic innervation to a heart of the subject. 
     
     
         97 . A method according to  claim 93 , wherein driving the current comprises driving the current into a nerve of the subject that provides sympathetic innervation to a lung of the subject. 
     
     
         98 . A method according to  claim 93 , wherein driving the current comprises driving the current into a nerve that modulates hidrosis of the subject. 
     
     
         99 - 100 . (canceled) 
     
     
         101 . A method according to  claim 93 , wherein driving the current comprises configuring the current to be capable of treating hypertension of the subject. 
     
     
         102 . A method according to  claim 93 , wherein driving the current comprises configuring the current to be capable of treating an aspect of heart failure of the subject. 
     
     
         103 . A method according to  claim 93 , wherein driving the current comprises configuring the current to be capable of treating an aspect of cardiac arrhythmia of the subject. 
     
     
         104 . A method according to  claim 93 , wherein driving the current comprises configuring the current to be capable of treating tachycardia of the subject. 
     
     
         105 . A method according to  claim 93 , wherein driving the current comprises configuring the current to be capable of treating an aspect of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) of the subject. 
     
     
         106 . (canceled) 
     
     
         107 . A method according to  claim 93 , and comprising placing electrodes in a vicinity of the nerve in response to an acute occurrence, wherein driving the current comprises driving the current through the electrodes, and wherein the method comprises removing the electrodes following the acute occurrence. 
     
     
         108 . A method according to  claim 93 , and comprising sensing an indication of a presence of a condition of the subject, wherein driving the current comprises driving the current responsive to sensing the indication. 
     
     
         109 . A method according to  claim 93 , and comprising receiving an input from the subject, wherein driving the current comprises driving the current responsive to receiving the input. 
     
     
         110 - 207 . (canceled) 
     
     
         208 . Apparatus for treating a subject, comprising:
 an electrode device, adapted to apply current to a sympathetic nerve of the subject; and   a control unit, adapted to: (a) drive the electrode device to apply to the nerve a current having a characteristic frequency between about 10 and 50 Hz and an amplitude between about 0.1 and 20 mA, and (b) configure the application of the current to be such as to inhibit action potential propagation in the nerve.   
     
     
         209 . Apparatus according to  claim 208 , wherein the control unit is adapted to set the frequency to be greater than 20 Hz. 
     
     
         210 - 221 . (canceled) 
     
     
         222 . Apparatus according to  claim 208 , wherein the electrode device is adapted: (a) to be placed in a vicinity of the nerve in response to an acute occurrence, for application of the current to the nerve, and (b) to be removed the vicinity of the nervous tissue following the acute occurrence. 
     
     
         223 . Apparatus according to  claim 208 , wherein the control unit is adapted to sense an indication of a presence of a condition of the subject, and to drive the electrode device to apply the current responsive to sensing the indication. 
     
     
         224 . Apparatus according to  claim 208 , wherein the control unit is adapted to receive an input from the subject, and to drive the electrode device to apply the current responsive to receiving the input. 
     
     
         225 - 229 . (canceled)